Survivors

Survivor Benefits

Death Before Retirement

If a MOSERS member dies prior to retirement, the member’s eligible spouse or child(ren) may be entitled to survivor benefits. Follow the links below to pertinent sections of the member handbook for more detailed information

Death After Retirement

Final Payment from MOSERS

When a MOSERS member dies, a final monthly benefit will be issued the last working day of the month in which the member dies. Members should ensure information about the beneficiary of the final payment is up to date. More information.

Life Insurance

Survivors of a member with life insurance through MOSERS should contact MOSERS as soon as is reasonably possible after the death has occurred. They will be guided through the process of filing a life insurance claim.

In order to safeguard system assets, MOSERS is constantly working to prevent and detect fraud.
A survivor of a benefit recipient, or someone who has a joint account with or is responsible for receiving a payment on behalf of a benefit recipient should notify MOSERS, as soon as possible, of the death of a benefit recipient. Notification will help prevent benefit overpayments and subsequent legal actions to recover any overpayments. Notification will also facilitate other benefit payments that may be due after the death of the member such as any final payment(s) due a beneficiary, survivor payment(s), life insurance proceeds, and/or refund of contributions.
MOSERS will prosecute cases of suspected fraud. Contact MOSERS at (800) 827-1063 or at mosers@mosers.org. Learn more and/or report suspected fraud anonymously on MOSERS’ website.

Steps for Survivors

MOSERS will need several forms completed in order to initiate life insurance and/or survivor benefits in the event of a member's death.

It is usually best to contact a benefit counselor to verify eligibility and to be sure you proceed appropriately, especially if you are the survivor of a judge or administrative law judge.

If you elected a joint and survivor option when you retired and your spouse precedes you in death, should you remarry, you will have one year from your date of marriage to elect a survivor benefit for your new spouse. This is referred to as a "pop-down."

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